In the late hours of a summer night in Axton, Virginia, the life of 40-year-old Alfonso Navarro-Pena was tragically cut short. On June 27, 2014, just before 11:15 PM, he was shot while inside his truck in front of a residence on Daniel Road and was pronounced dead at the scene. The following morning, the investigation into his death took a devastating turn with the discovery of his 33-year-old brother, Noel Navarro-Pena, who had also been fatally shot. Noel's body was found in a parking lot at the Smith River Sports Complex.
The double homicide rocked the quiet community as the Henry County Sheriff's Office, along with federal and state agencies, delved into a complex investigation. Their search of the brothers' home on Sugar Tree Drive uncovered a significant amount of evidence suggesting a connection to illegal activities. Investigators found $28,000 in cash, 25 pounds of marijuana, 2.6 ounces of cocaine, four guns with ammunition, and multiple cell phones. This discovery led authorities to believe the murders were motivated by money and drugs, pointing to a high-level drug operation.
Less than a month after the murders, on July 17, 2014, the investigation led to the arrests of two men. Jonathan Rivera-Olvera, 24 at the time, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. James Travis Moore, then 33, faced one count of first-degree murder and one count of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The legal proceedings against the two accused men began to unfold. James Moore's trial was set to begin in Henry County in December 2016. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and the use of a firearm during the commission of a felony for his alleged role in the shooting deaths of both Alfonso and Noel Navarro-Pena. Jonathan Rivera-Olvera was scheduled to have his trial date set in January of the following year.
